Welder&#39;s helmet



Dec. 23, 1947.- I R. T. SHIELDS WELDERS HELMET Filed June 12, 1945Patented Dec. 23, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDERS HELMETRaleigh T. Shields, Newport News, Va. Application June 12, 1945, SerialNo. 598,963

This invention relates to a novel and improved welders helmet and moreparticularly to an eye protecting shield, its construction and methodand means of mounting same on the helmet frame to satisfactorily achievethe desired ends.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized byan endless circular band to embrace the head and temples of the wearer,this being attached on opposite sides to the helmet, there being a pairof suitably shaped arms hingedly connected at their rear ends tocorresponding portions of said band, and these latter arms beingattached to an appropriate eye protecting shield which can beconveniently swung down when in use, or swung up to an out-of-thewayposition beneath the helmet.

The principal object of the invention, obviously, is to provide asuitable welders helmet with an adequate type of eye shield which may bemoved out of the way or brought into position whenever necessary ordesired depending on the circumstances, said shield serving to protectthe eyes against the flying hot flux and metal, and also from the arcsof other welders nearby.

Other objects, features and advantages will become mor readily apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying illustrativedrawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

'Figure 1 is a side view showing the eye shield equipped welders helmetas constructed in accordance with the principles of the instantinvention and portraying the manner in which it is worn and used, aportion of one side being broken away to expose the structural detailstherebeneath.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the helmet on oneside and bringing out the top plan and configuration of the head bandand eye shield attachment, other parts being purposely omitted forclearness of emphasis of the main parts.

Figure 3 is a section which may be said to be taken approximately on theplane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is aview somewhat similar to Figure 2, this bringing out,partly in perspective, the shape and formation of the details.

Figure 5 is a view which may be said to be taken approximately on theplane of the line 55 of Figure 1 bringing out the parts on a largerscale.

Referring to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, thehelmet, which is of ap- 4 Claims. (01. 2-8) propriate shap and materialsis denoted by the numeral '1. This preferably conforms to the shape andsize of a regular welders helmet and is positioned to extend out so asto provide clearance space between itself and the forehead toaccommodate the eye shield, permitting same to be raised and pushed upunder and between the helmet and head when not in use, or brought downto the useful position illustrated in Figure 1. In

order to achieve the desired ends, I employ a substantially circularslightly downwardly and cut wardly slanted band or adapter 8. Thissurrounds the head as shown and also embraces the temples of the wearer,the opposite median portions thereof being pinned, as at 9, to adjacentedge portions of the shell of the helmet. Either a bolt or a screw maybe mployed, this as brought out in Figure 5, the same being surroundedat inner and outer end portions by short spacing sleeves l0 and H. Thenumerals l2 designate. outstanding stop or rest pins carried by the band8 which are of appropriate dimensions and shape and these accommodatethe horizontal reaches or portions of the duplicate eye-shield arms l3.The rear or inner ends of the arms 13 are formed into suitable eyes l4hingedly mounted on the pins 9 on opposite sides of the helmet. Whenthey arms are down, that is in horizontal and useful positions as seenin Figure 1 they rest on the outstanding stop pins which pins serve tokeep them in the thus elevated position. The outer ends of the arms aredirected laterally and downwardly.

as indicated at l5 and they are then attached as at Hi to asubstantially arcuate channel-shaped frame member I! which carries thedetachable eye shield I 8. This is of appropriate fireproof transparentmaterial and, in practice, may be suitably colored, for instance coloredgreen for restfulness to the eyes of the wearer.

When it is not necessary or desired to utilize the eye shield 18 in aposition in front of the wearers eyes it can be swung up to anout-ofthe-way position. That is to say, the user can simply grasp theeye shield and lift it up by hand and then move it to a position overthe top or crown of his head in which position it takes a horizontalsetting. Also, if the visor or helmet l is at the same time in acorrespondingly horizontal position, the eye, shield I8 takes a positionbetween the helmet and the head of'the wearer. When the eye-shield I8 isin this up and out-ofi sumed that there is a single latch underconsideration. Each latch is of the construction shown in Figure 5; thatis to say, it comprises a slidably mounted pin having a knurled fingergrip which is accessible through and beyond one side of the helmet, theshank of the pin being slidable in an aperture in said helmet. The pinis held in normally projected or locking position by a coiled spring 2|bearing against a suitably arranged; istop shoulder 22. When: the armsl3 and companion eye-shield llFareboth-downand the face shield l issimultaneously down (see dotted lines in Figure 1), the latch pin I9 istheir. snapped into the aligned keeper slot 23-. With. both shields 1and I8 latched together they may be swung conveniently up and overthe=wear.ers:i: head to assume outof-the-way,. positions. Also,, saidshields may be operated and used independently; that is, the shield Imay be shoved inland: self retained over the wearer's head, while theother shield] 8. may; be. droppeddown for use, as shown in full .linesin. Figure ,.1.. By the same token, .and. assuming thattheshild] isupand. the.us.er;wants to lift the eyeeshield l 8 and locatesamebetweenthe shield I andthe top of. hishead, this too can-beaccomplished and saidshields again..latchedtogether. for proper.maintenance.

The gist .of- .the invention is..in .the. provision. of- -a comfortablyand. appropriately shaped helmet, this toaccommo'data. by suitableclearance, the. .circular headland adapter. b'and,'..the .latterassisting .in supporting the helmet'in place, also. serving asaneife'ctive complemental part. for the opposed pairs of arms. whichiservein turn, to suspendand hingedly mount the arcuate eye shield.

With furtherrreference to the aforementioned springpressed latches. or.detents l9, it will. be observed that whenthe helmet I swings-up. and.overthe head. and assumes a horizontal position as illustrated-in}Figurel, it will. carry the eye. shield I8..up:with'. it. In. other.words, the eye shield .willmaintainthe same spaced parallel relation..tothe helmettand jboth. parts will swing up. as. .a..unit. However, if .itis desired, the helmet can. be released. by disengagingthe latch andswung .up independently leaving ,the eye-shield in.the downpositionshownin fulllines .inFlgure 1-.. Then. when thehelmet isreturnedtoits normal...face .shieldingposition. as. shown. in dottedlines-inFigurel, the latch. I9Twillhave to be reengaged withthe-keeperslot 23.. These are, how ever, obvious phasesof the invention suchlaswill, be .clearto: persons skilled .in .the, .art to. which it relates.

In. practice. I.- contemplate .using either one or. two. of..saidlatches. depending. on requirements of the .trade..

A- carefulaconsideration -of the foregoing; description in conjunction.withwthe, invention; as illustrated in.the.drawings wi1l1;enable'.- thereader to. ,obtain .avclear understanding and impression. of theallegedfeaturesof. merit. and noveltyysuf; ficienttoclarify theconstruction of'theinvention as. hereinafter. claimed;

Minor changes in. shape, size, materials: and rearrangement offpartsmaybe resorted to in actualpractice so,long as no departureis madefromthe. inyentionas. claimed.

I.;claim:

1. In a structural assemblage -of,-the class described,,incombination,a'welderjs helmet, a 'cir'- cula'r band adaptedto embrace the'hiead andtemples of the wearer, said helmet being hingedly mounted on said bandarms also hingedly mounted on the band, and an eye shield connected tothe outer ends of said arms, the band being provided with stop pins andsaid arms resting on said stop pins when in a down position, one of saidarms having a keeper slot, and a releasable spring retained latchmounted on the helmet and engageable with the keeper slot to hold thearms and 'eyezshieldin'an up and.,out-of--the-.way position whenthe-helmet is in a' raised position.

2. A combination welders helmet and companion eye-shield comprising ahead encircling band, ,a--.welders helmet comprising a face shieldhaving a sight opening and wing portions hingedlymountedjonsubstantially diametrically opposite portions ofthe headencircling band, arms hingedly mounted on said head encircling bandbetween the band and surrounding face shield, an eye-shield connected tosaid arms, at least oneof-saidarmshaving akeeper means, releasable latchmeansvmounted on; the face shield and engageablegwithsaid keeper meansin order to permit-the eye-shield and face shield to Work.

either in unison, or independently ofon another, as-the-case may be.

3.. A combination .welders helmet and companion eye-shield comprising,ahead encircling band,. a window equipped welders .helmet comprisingafaceshield havingwing portions hingedly attachedto.substantiallydiametrically oppo-- siteportions .of thehead encircling band, armshingedly connected at their rear endsto said head. encircling. band atpointsbetween the band andsurrounding faceshield, an eye-shieldconnected panion eye-shield. arrangement, head embracing means, awelders helmet comprising a face shieldhaving' portions hingedlyattached to substantially diametrically opposite portions of saidembracing means, a pair of complemental arms hingedly. connected at.their rear ends to diametrically'oppositeside .portionsof said embracing,means,..an. eye-shield connected to theouter. swingableends of said,arms. outstanding stop elements moutedon said embracing means withwhichsaidarms are .engageable,.and manually controllable latch meanscarried by saidface shield andreleasably connectible with acoactingportionof .at least one of said armsin the manner and forthepurposes described.

RALEIGH T. SHIELDS.

REFERENCES CITED The :followingreferences-are :of. record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS:

Name Date Huntsman Nov. 21. 1944 Number

